International badminton player Lakshya Sen has brought pride to India not only nationally but also internationally through his outstanding performances. He was born on 16 August 2001 in Almora district of Uttarakhand into a family where three generations have been associated with badminton. His grandfather was known as the “Bhishma Pitamah of badminton in Almora.” His father, D.K. Sen, has served as a national-level coach, while his elder brother, Chirag Sen, is also an international badminton player.
Lakshya began his badminton journey at the Hemanti Nandan Bahuguna Sports Stadium in Almora and later received professional training at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bengaluru.
In 2014, he won the Swiss Junior International title and continued to impress in the junior badminton circuit in 2016. At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Lakshya Sen became the first Indian male shuttler to reach the semifinals in the men’s singles event. He is also a Commonwealth Games gold medalist and a World Championship bronze medalist.
At a very young age, he established his identity on both national and international platforms and won several prestigious medals.
Major Achievements and Awards:
- Arjuna Award 2022 – Honoured for excellence in sports
- Paris Olympics 2024 – First Indian male badminton player to reach the men’s singles semifinal in Olympic history
- Commonwealth Games 2022 – Gold medal in men’s singles and silver medal in mixed team event
- Thomas Cup 2022 – Part of India’s historic gold medal-winning team
- World Championships 2021 – Bronze medal in men’s singles
- Times of India Sports Awards 2025 – Badminton Player of the Year